10 Home Remedies for Genital Herpes

A plant that has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties, knowledge of aloe vera dates back as far as 1750 B.C. from Mesopotamian clay tablets. And Egyptian books from 550 B.C. mention its specific use to heal the skin [source: Shelton].

As in dealing with sunburns, apply aloe vera gel directly to herpes sores and allow the gel to dry. Whether directly from an aloe plant or from a commercial bottle, the cooling effect of the gel can help ease pain and promote healing [source: Davis]. But as with other items on this list, you'll want to keep the area dry to speed up healing of the sores.